| Whether you are a man or a woman, the | | | | 0'Hanlon, writer and hypnotherapist. |
| feelings that come with midlife crisis can be | | | | |
| similar. Disillusionment, doubt, unhappiness, | | | | When you walk into the Room of 10,000 |
| restlessness and disappointment are some of | | | | Demons, you will see all your worst fears and |
| the common characteristics. Many people | | | | nightmares played out as if they were real. |
| report a kind of uneasiness that they just | | | | |
| can't name.As the baby-boom generation (those | | | | When you walk in, the door closes behind |
| born between 1945 and 1965) has come of age, | | | | you, and there is no handle on the inside of |
| it's as if, at best, having a midlife crisis | | | | the door. If you can make it to the other |
| has become fashionable.At worst, it's an | | | | side, to the door leading out, you will reach |
| excuse for irresponsible and possibly | | | | nirvana. |
| destructive behavior.Because baby boomers | | | | |
| tend to reach success at an earlier age than | | | | Once inside, you get two important |
| their parents, midlife crisis can hit earlier | | | | instructions. The first is that no matter |
| as well.Crisis and opportunityThe Chinese | | | | what you see, hear or feel, it's not real; |
| symbol for crisis means both danger and | | | | it's merely a product of your own mind. The |
| opportunity. A midlife crisis represents both | | | | second instruction is that no matter what you |
| danger and opportunity for the people who | | | | see, hear or feel, keep your feet moving. |
| experience one. Let's take a look at both of | | | | Eventually, you will make it to the other |
| these possibilities.DangerRemember the old | | | | side.And, as we can glean from this story, |
| sci-fi series Lost in Space? Whenever danger | | | | you may start to believe that you have to act |
| was approaching, the robot would wave his | | | | on everything you feel.OpportunityThe |
| arms and shout, "Danger! Danger! Warning, | | | | opportunities available in a midlife crisis |
| Will Robinson!"From what I've seen happen to | | | | can be very useful.A midlife crisis can be a |
| many people, that's what needs to be shouted | | | | time of evaluation and soul-searching and not |
| at people hitting a midlife crisis.Here's a | | | | necessarily a time of self-absorption.In the |
| list of some of the dangers:If you try to | | | | movie Look Who's Talking, one character tells |
| resolve a midlife crisis with the traditional | | | | a woman, whom he has gotten pregnant and is |
| little red sports car and 22-year-old new | | | | abandoning, that his therapist says he is |
| partner, you may wind up in a small, | | | | going through a selfish phase. Now that's |
| one-bedroom apartment with huge alimony and | | | | self-absorption!Puh-lease!Not only is a |
| child-support payments.You may start to | | | | period of evaluation and soul-searching a |
| believe that everything you are feeling is | | | | good thing - it can and should be done much |
| real. It's like the story about the Room of | | | | more often than just at midlife. |
| 10,000 Demons, first told to me by Bill | | | | |